Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello and welcome to this week’s Essex Olympian League round-up (Sat 19 Jan). This week, we round-up the action in the Premier Division, Senior One, Senior Two, Senior Three and Senior Four. Thanks for reading.
EOFL Premier Division
In the top-tier, the top-two shootout between Buckhurst Hill and Harold Wood Athletic ended in a 3 – 0 home win for Hill. Steve Townsend’s double and a Nathan Sollosi strike in the last half-hour did the damage in this one to keep the leaders three points clear. Ath’s eight-match unbeaten run ended here as they dropped to third on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Kelvedon Hatch nipped into 2nd place with a 3 – 1 success over Hutton. Anthony Aylett’s brace led the way with Danny Gillard also netting as Hatch’s own unbeaten run extended to eight matches. Hutton fell to ninth though have a seven-point cushion on Old Southendian in tenth. Bishop’s Stortford Swifts ended a five-match winless stretch with a solid 2 – 1 win at Springfield. Michael Moore and Gavin Cockman were on target to see them extend their lead over Rayleigh in 5th to seven points. The home side remain 11th.
Rayleigh Town were held 2 – 2 at home by lowly Sungate. Ciaran Kelly and Jermaine Purchase both netted for the visitors though Max Jones and Bailey Moss strikes restored parity and earned a point for Town. Sungate drop to second-bottom, five points clear of bottom side Manford Way, who earnt a fine 1 – 0 win at Canning Town. Ruben Carvalho getting the only goal of that game as Manford got successive wins under their belts.
Elsewhere, Great Baddow ended a nine-match run barren of victory with a 2 – 0 home win over Old Southendian. Dan Gage and Nav Arain strikes saw Baddow rise one to 12th. Catholic Utd edged a scrappy game 1 – 0 at Leigh Ramblers with player-manager Dan Trenkel coming off the bench to grab the only goal and send them up to 8th. Ramblers drop to 6th.
EOFL Senior Div One
In Olympian Division One, FC Hamlets defeated Rayleigh Town Res 2 – 1 as an OG and Charlie Heatley goals saw them to success at Hackney Marshes. Ramsden Scotia won 3 – 0 at Frenford Res as Lewis Godbold, Kurt King and Steve Paoletti were all on target for the third-placed side who cut the gap to leaders Snaresbrook to six points.
Old Chelmsfordians were held 2 – 2 by Ongar Town. Martin Mixture continued his goal-scoring prowess with one for OC here with Paul Tiffen getting the other goal for the home side. Peter Davies and Niki Love struck for Town who drop to 7th.
Shenfield AFC edged a tough contest with Galleywood as they won 3 – 2. Ben Carroll, Mitch Day and Samuel Lock all scored for AFC while Thomas Watling’s double wasn’t enough for the Chelmsford-based side. Shenfield are now four points adrift of the summit. Basildon Town continued their good season with a 3 – 1 win at leaders Snaresbrook. Ryan Barker-Francis got the goal for the hosts here, though Alfie Phillips struck two and Brodie Horner got the other goal as Town continued their good season in 4th spot.
Herongate Athletic compounded May & Baker Reserves’ poor run as Ath won 7 – 0 away from home. Ben Warren led the charge with four goals here with Glen Jordan nabbing another brace and Jack Wilson-Jones was also on the score-sheet.
EOFL Snr Div Two
In Senior Division Two, there was one stand-out result. Chingford Athletic built on their fine Senior League Cup win last week with a devastating goal-scoring display in their 17 – 0 win over hapless Rochford Town. Eric Kelly continued his fine season with six goals himself, with Alex Gordon getting five goals, Louis Bollard a mere hat-trick and Mickey Mesmin and Harry Williams notching as well in a hugely exciting performance for Ath which saw them up to 5th place.
Runwell Sports got back to winning ways with a 3 – 2 win at Harold Wood Athletic Res. Joe Pyne & an Own Goal were the Ath scorers though Charlie Adams, Scott Mortlock and Joe Young strikes saw Sports to a triumph here. Toby also struck three in a 3 – 1 win over Ryan at Wadham Lodge’s 3G pitch. Paul Carr, Ross Dipple and Nick Harvey’s pearler saw them stay at the ‘top of the mountain’ by a point after the weekend’s action.
Beacon Hill Rovers also maintained their good form with a 2 – 0 home win over Lakeside. Rovers rise to third while their opponents drop to sixth.
EOFL Snr Div Three
In Senior Three, leaders Westhamians remain at the summit as they won 2 – 1 at White Ensign Res. Caiden Imbert-Thomas and Lewis Lawrence goals saw them to the win. Chadrack-Kisoka Domingo got Ensign’s goal though they continue to struggle this term. Laindon Orient hit eight in a 8 – 1 win over Old Chelmsfordians Reserves at the James Hornsby Centre (3G). Sam Lake led the way with a hat-trick, Jason Purewal added two with Jasper Read, Jamie Williams and Jordan Williams also chipping in for the home side.
Wakering Sports won 2 – 1 at Academy Soccer with Francis Alinc getting both goals for Aaron Bloxham’s side. Academy’s strike came from Alex Brown. In the other game in the division, Leigh Town were held 1 – 1 by Old Southendian Res. Sam Gillmore struck for the hosts with Jack Pagett getting OS’ goal.
EOFL Senior Four
In Senior Four, Corinthians remain top after another goal-laden display. They won 6 – 2 at home to Buckhurst Hill Res. John Bolton-Smith and Bill Wilton were among the goals again, both getting braces plus Leo Clarke and Jordan Stoneham also scoring here. Dagenham Utd also continued their fine form with a 5 – 3 win at Shenfield AFC Res. The home side had Billy Calder, Richard Palmer and Edson Sousa to thank for their goals though the Dingli brothers had another day to remember, with Jacob Dingli getting another four goals to take him to a terrific goal haul – 28 so far in Division Four this season. Oliver Dingli got the other goal as Dagenham got the win to stay 2nd.
Third-placed Epping Town edged a fabulous game at Stonards Hill as they beat Catholic Utd Res 5 – 4. Alex Paraskeva grabbed a hat-trick with Joe Killingback and ex-Hornchurch legend Elliot Syles also netting. Galleywood Reserves defeated Leigh Ramblers Res 3 – 1 with Paddy Dowse, Saw Rawlinson and Joe Reynard striking for the hosts. Yannic Werling got the consolation for the strugglers.
Meanwhile, Canning Town Res won 4 – 2 at Lakeside Res and Toby Res also had a fine day with a 5 – 1 home win over Old Barkabbeyans, who remain second-bottom.
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading. For more information about the Essex Olympian League, visit their website at eofl.co.uk
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